What if Qibli accepted Darkstalkers' offer?

WINTER

"Let's go!" Winter barked. All of them took off from Jade Mountain. Thunder rumbled. Perfect timing, he thought. The rain started to fall. Kinkajou led the way. She was heading west, towards the Night Kingdom.

"Why are we going there?" Winter demanded. "We're here to deal with Qibli first, not Darkstalker." Winter felt a shiver across his spine every time he even thought about Darkstalker.

"We're getting- never mind. I'll only slow down your guy's journey. I'll catch up with you all once I convince her. Bye!"

"Wait! Who's 'her'?" Moon asked.

Turtle looked disappointed. Poor Turtle, with that little crush of his, Winter snickered. Would I feel like that if Moon left? He thought. He felt guilty. What is wrong with me? Being all nice and soft. Maybe I've been influenced too much by Kinkajou. Turtle fumbled with his pouch, and took out two seashells. "Here," he said, panting. "Use this to communicate with us."

Kinkajou wrinkled her snout as she took one. "What am I supposed to do with this? Yell in it?" She screamed in it in a high-pitched voice, causing everyone to cover their ears.

"No, I write messages in here," Turtle pointed at his seashell. "And the messages will show up on your seashell. It will only go one way though, so don't bother asking any questions." He explained.

Kinkajou nodded. "Alright, see you guys soon!"

___________________________________________________________

Throughout their flying toward the Kingdom of Sand, the rain started beating down harder and harder, until Winter's vision was all blurred by the rain. He glanced at the dragons. Turtle was dropping to the ground more frequently than Winter expected, considering that he was a SEAWING and their natural habitat was in the OCEAN, where WATER was EVERYWHERE. Moowatcher wasn't dropping to the ground, but she was beating her wings furiously. Winter found it ironic that Moon, the only dragon that grew up in a rainy place her whole life, was struggling the most in the rain. Seriously, what's so hard about flying through the rain? Icewings would NEVER complain. Let alone drop to the ground cause of some tiny storm. Winter thought. A raindrop traveled from his horns to his snout. It was unpleasant. Alright, so maybe the rain is annoying, he thought to himself.

"Are you sure Qibli would be in the Kingdom of Sand?" Moon yelled over the fierce wind. "Wouldn't he still be in the Rainforest-" Her voice got cut off as the wind knocked her off balance.

Winter shook his head. "Qibli must be taking over Pyrrhia, along with Darkstalker now" he realized. "His next stop must be the Ice Kingdom." Winter inhaled sharply.

"We can't let that happen," Moonwatcher said with full determination.

Moon is... incredible... Winter thought.

"Yeah yeah, but how are we going to get over the Great Ice Cliff?" Turtle complained. "Even if we did, wouldn't Qibli just enchant the entire Icewing tribe to hand over the throne to him?" He scratched his horns.

Winter shook his head, frowning. How could one be such an idiot? Winter was an ICEWING, HE could get over the wall.

"I'm guessing that commanding an entire tribe to obey him would be exhausting, even with animus magic," Moon said. "Also, Winter's an Icewing. He can get over the wall and warn his tribe about what's going to happen."

"Isn't he forbidden to enter though?" Turtle pointed out.

Silence. Winter forgot about that. Surely they'll let me in for something as important as this. But what if they kick me out before I can explain? Winter lashed his tail. At this point, everyone's wings were numb and were dragging them down. Through the rain, Winter spotted a cliff they could stop by and rest. As they descended, Turtle clumsily slipped on one of the jagged rocks and yelped. Winter scowled at him. Moon offered him a talon, before slipping (she underestimated Turtle's weight) and crashing on top of Turtle.

"Oof," He cried.

Moonwatcher quickly rose to her feet. She took off her pouch which was now completely soaked. All of a sudden, her head shot up.

"What's wrong?" Winter asked, concerned.

"Shh," Moon silenced him. "I sense a crowd of dragons. And a really nasty thought from another dragon. It sounds like- a battle plan?" Moon clutched her head. She screamed.

"Moon!" Winter yelled.

Moon fell to the ground, and Winter was immediately by her side, asking her to get up.

"I'm all right," Moon said weakly. "Just the crowd is a lot."

Winter seized her pouch, which was lying by Turtle's side. He was still on the ground. Winter quickly twisted the pouch, getting all the water out. He gave it to Moon, and she smiled.

"Thanks," she whispered.

Winter felt this warm feeling in him. Am I sick? He wondered. No... this is... true happiness. He realized. With Moon, everything was better. The world may be put to an end, but at least his final days would be with Moonwatcher and his closest friends. Friends that weren't disappointed in him, but looked up to him.

"Winter, I think that crowd of dragons were the Rainwings. Qibli must be leading them to the Ice Kingdom." Moon said, staring deeply into his dark blue eyes.

"What?" Turtle said sharply. "Doesn't he know that Rainwings can't survive the cold? Is he just going to enchant every single one of them?"

"Silence," Winter hissed. He crept towards the crowd, hiding behind a bush. Turtle and Moon followed him. They all heard a voice, unmistakably Qibli's voice.

"Now listen up, we are going to attack the Icewings, getting them under my command. YOU," He roared.

Winter could hear a scream coming from a Rainwing, as Qibli breathed fire at him. Winter winced. What has gotten into him? He thought, horrified. My best friend was never like that.

"ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?" Qibli then went on to say.

The poor Rainwing whimpered and limped back towards his place in the crowd. Another Rainwing raised a talon, saying,

"Uh, Sir?" Qibli stared at him.

"Speak up,"

"I think there are dragons over there spying on us," The Rainwing said, pointing towards their direction.

Qibli stared at the bush, inspecting it. Winter, Moon, and Turtle could hear him walk towards them. Moon clasped her talons around her mouth, preventing her from screaming. Winter held on to his wolf pouch tightly. Qibli chuckled.

"Don't worry, I already knew they were here the entire time. Isn't that right, WINTER?" The bush ignited into flames.

I forgot he could read minds without skyfire, Winter thought bitterly. Qibli laughed.

"How stupid of you. Now, because you three tried to ruin my plans, again, I'm afraid I can't keep letting you guys do that."

Winter protectively jumped in front of Moonwatcher. Qibli noticed it.

"Aw, look at you, protecting your little girlfriend,"

"SHE IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND," Winter growled. Behind him, Moon winced.

Qibli rolled his eyes. "Close enough. Now, I don't want to waste any more time. Rainwings," He said, while fanning out his wings, "Destroy them."